L.A. Family Housing Awards Raise $900,000 to Help Homeless

Industry insiders and celebrities gathered at the Book Bindery event space on Thursday night that raised $900,000 to fund an organization that helps families transition out of homelessness and poverty.

“L.A. Family Housing is a very unique organization in that we not only have emergency shelters for families but we also have transitional and permanent affordable housing,” said Rich, who began volunteering seven years ago for the organization. “We also provide all the social and medical services, in addition to a full continuum of services and that’s why we have a 92% success rate.”

At the event, guests were treated to tasty bites from restaurant stations by the likes of Akasha, Angelini Osteria, The Fat Cow and newcomer RivaBella and a live auction hosted by bad-boy comedian and panelist on Chelsea LatelyBen Gleib. The comic made jabs at Kris Jenner and bemoaned the fact that Instagram doesn't have a zoom function, a failing he can’t abide when looking at the suggestive photos Rihanna posts.

Gleib's philanthropic aim was simple though: beat last year's fundraising total of $775,000.

“I basically plan on shaming people into giving up their money,” said Gleib. “I’m even auctioning a designer puppy later on, and a custom built dog house by architect Scott Mitchell -- anything to get those numbers up!” The winning bidder for the dog and dog house ponied up $8,000.

The event honored Baywatch’s Tai Collins, who runs the nonprofit A Chance for Children, with the Dream Builder Award.